Dave Wilson

Cowleys Pest Services

Title: Pest Control Technician

Hometown: Waretown

David (Dave) Wilson, a Waretown resident, joined Cowleys in 2016. He is a pest control technician with a specialized interest in termite infestations. Dave joined Cowleys as an experienced technician with 12 years in pest control. Because of his background, he is also one of Cowleys’ termite inspectors.

Dave is a licensed NJDEP commercial pesticide applicator. In addition to Core certification, he holds three pest control category certifications: 7A for general and household pest control, 7B certification for termites & other wood-destroying insects, and the NJDEP’s new category 13 certification for using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in schools.

Dave developed an interest in termite control after years of witnessing first-hand the extent of property damage caused by these wood-devouring insects. When it comes to property damage, no other insect comes close. Dave especially enjoys the challenge of helping homeowners discover and treat termite infestations. Subterranean termites are silent and rarely seen, travelling in the soil or in self-constructed mud tubes. Because they consume wood from the inside-out, termite damage often goes unnoticed until late in the infestation, and the early signs of an infestation are subtle.

Dave is extremely thorough and methodical in his termite inspections. No part of a home escapes his eagle-eyed attention to detail. According to Dave, locating termites is especially challenging when they are hidden behind wall voids, door frames, trim, window frames, and other building materials – and that’s often the case – and that’s why years of experience on the job dealing with termite infestations makes a difference. The technician must look for the smallest clues of damage, often patiently tapping along vulnerable areas to listen for hollow-sounding wood. Also, the smart use of termite moisture meters to find building materials with elevated moisture levels or decay helps to identify potential areas of termite damage where further inspection is necessary.

In his spare time, Dave is a serious practitioner of the martial arts, and he also enjoys football, fishing, and relaxing by taking his dog on long walks. He also values the time he spends with his wife and son, who is now a toddler. Dave mentioned that he spends a good part of his day at home chasing him around the house, and making sure his “little tornado” doesn’t get into too much mischief or break too many items.